I believe the Empire Theatre in Middlesbrough should go back to its original use as a proper theatre where we can see the best of drama and musical shows. We always lose out to Newcastle and Sunderland when top artists come up to the North-east.

The Little Theatre is very nice but does not have the capacity for large shows.

We have a number of clubs so I don't see losing one would matter that much. Although I respect Mr Mallon's views on a lot of things, I think he has got it wrong on this occasion.

JH, Linthorpe

* I READ with interest the article on the Empire in Middlesbrough, owned by Mr Barry Faulkner. I remember him from my teenage youth spent in clubs in and around Teesside. I now live in a city just outside of Los Angeles, California, but regularly read the Evening Gazette on-line.

I see a late licence has been applied for the Empire, which will rival late night venues in other large northern cities, and also London so as not to "leave Middlesbrough behind".

However, on my last late night visit to Middlesbrough, even accompanied by my "rather imposing American spouse", I was scared to death of the streets and what was out on them late at night.

This, by the way, is coming from a person who used to live in Hollywood, and who frequented regularly all the watering holes and clubs on the Hollywood Boulevard back in the late '80s.